The Group of 20 (G20) countries agreed on Friday to implement aggressive plans to promote a sustainable recovery of employment, vowing to carry out structural reforms on labor markets.

"As growth returns, every country must act to ensure that employment recovers quickly. We commit to implementing recovery plans that support decent work, help preserve employment, and prioritize job growth," said a Leaders' Statement issued after a two-day summit meeting of the world's major economies in Pittsburgh, the US state of Pennsylvania.

According to the statement, the G20 countries will adopt structural reforms in order to create more inclusive labor markets, active labor market policies, and quality education and training programs.

"Without sustained action, unemployment is likely to continue rising in many of our countries even after economies stabilize, with a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable segments of our population," said the statement.

The group, which brings together major industrialized and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy, said it will continue to provide income, social protection, and training support for the unemployed and those most at risk of unemployment.

According to the G20, developed countries should support developing countries to build and strengthen their capacities on training programs, in order that future economic growth could obtain new impetus from an employment-oriented development strategy.

"Each of our countries will need, through its own national policies, to strengthen the ability of our workers to adapt to changing market demands and to benefit from innovation and investments in new technologies, clean energy, environment, health, and infrastructure," said the G20 leaders' statement.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2009)